Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Pre-purchase roof survey in Kingston Lisle, Oxfordshire
Find out the condition of the roof at your property in Kingston Lisle. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- A ridge or slope that dips
- Blistered or split felt on a flat roof
- Gutters that overflow or drip at the joints
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Kingston Lisle
Buyers in Kingston Lisle and right across London and South East England use our pre-purchase roof survey. From terraced and semi-detached homes to detached houses and flats, the roof gets the same careful look. The report says what’s in good order, what isn’t and what to deal with first. We’re insured for professional indemnity and public liability, with more than 20 years’ experience behind us. To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or send us an email. Typical surveys look at gutters that overflow or drip at the joints and bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs, across flat-roofed extensions and dormers, gutters and downpipes and natural slate.
Somewhere as small as Kingston Lisle, older cottages, farmhouses and converted buildings frequently sit beside a few newer homes. Older roofs there may have clay tiles, slate, stone or, in some places, thatch. Each covering has its own weak points, whether the roof is old or newly laid, and thatch is a specialist material, so we report on what can be seen. Older roofs may also have old felt underlay or none, and fixings that have done a long stint.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the main slopes down to the gutters and outlets. It records what’s sound as well as what isn’t.
- Place
- Kingston Lisle (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- A written report with photos, by email
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
How the survey works
We don’t take risks to get a closer look. Everything that can safely be seen is inspected, and if part of the roof cannot be seen, the report says so. The survey usually takes between one and two hours at the house you’re buying, depending on its size and how much of the roof can be seen. Somewhere like Kingston Lisle needs a little journey planning: let us know about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect everything that’s safely in view, inside and out.
- You book once your offer is accepted and let us know the address and your timetable.
- We arrange access with you, the agent or the seller.
- We inspect the roof from ground level, windows, the loft and the roof itself where it is safe.
- We check and photograph the slates or tiles, ridges, valleys, flashings, chimneys and gutters.
- We email a photo-illustrated written report and recommendations, ready for you to use before exchange.
Getting ready for the survey
- Keep pets in another room
- Make sure we can get to the back of the property
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Related advice
Roof by roof
Clay and concrete tiles
Concrete interlocking tiles are common on post-war and newer homes. They wear slowly, but surfaces erode and edges crack, and low-pitched roofs need their laps to be right.
Flat roofs
A flat roof that has been coated over several times may hide problems underneath. We record what we can see and say where a closer look is needed.
Places near Kingston Lisle
What else we do in Kingston Lisle
Local roofs and buyers in Kingston Lisle
If your survey includes the drone, the flight is checked against the Drone Safety Map first. Ashdown House, about 4.7 miles south-west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Kingston Lisle. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Kingston Lisle is about 5 miles west of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. In Kingston Lisle, as across Oxfordshire, every roof gets the same careful survey. Our area takes in places right across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford.
We survey roofs across OX12 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Hill View, Drove Way and Fawler Road. We also cover Westcot (1 mile east), Sparsholt (1 mile east), Woolstone (2 miles west), Upper Lambourn (5 miles south) and Sheepdrove (5 miles south). Larger places within reach include Didcot (12 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (13 miles north), Wantage (5 miles east) and Grove (5 miles east).
Near you in Kingston Lisle
Other landmarks nearby include Faringdon Day Hospital (5.2 miles north-west) and Uffington Museum (1.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Whitehorse Hill and Seven Barrows.
Signs you need a pre-purchase roof survey in Kingston Lisle
A chimney stack stands out in the wind and rain and they’re often the least maintained part of a roof. Mortar erodes, the flaunching around the pots cracks and the flashings work loose. A stack may be shared with the neighbours, which can affect how any work is arranged.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Signs of past leaks inside the loft
- Gutters choked with leaves and moss
- Gaps where slates or tiles have come loose
If you live in an older home near Church of St John the Baptist, older patch repairs can hide behind a tidy front slope, and the survey looks past them.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will they check the loft as well as the outside?
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether VAT is added on top
- How long they’ve been surveying roofs
Honest limits
We only report everything that’s safely in view on the day, so some things are outside what a survey can do:
- Confirmation of asbestos in cement sheets or soffits
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- Structural calculations (that is a structural engineer’s job)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or email us and we will tell you. What our survey covers.
What we check
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Gutters and downpipes
- The roof space
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Chimney stacks
- Clay and concrete tiles
- Natural slate
Tips from our surveys
Most of what helps is simple and safe from ground level. A few suggestions:
- Give your solicitor a copy of the report
- Ask whether there are papers for past roof work
- Check we’ll be able to get into the roof space
- Let us know your exchange date when you book
Your report arrives by email, with photographs of what we found. Basic reports come within 48 hours, Standard within 24 to 48 hours and Premium the same day. Findings are set out in plain English, with recommendations prioritised by urgency where relevant.
Check the roof from the garden and the street after a storm. Pieces of slate or tile in the garden mean something has moved. Small repairs done quickly stop bigger problems later.
Common questions in Kingston Lisle
Will you come out to Kingston Lisle?
We do. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house, with the route planned beforehand.
Does a conservation area affect roof work in Kingston Lisle?
Check Historic England’s online list first, then ask the council about conservation areas and any Article 4 direction. It matters most if you are planning to re-roof in a different material.
Can you tell me if my roof has asbestos?
No. Asbestos surveys and sampling aren’t something we do. The report may flag materials that could contain asbestos on buildings built or refurbished before 2000.
Do I need to be at home?
Not necessarily. If we only need the outside, we can agree that ahead of time, but the loft and any rooms with damp need someone to let us in.
How do I book a survey in Kingston Lisle?
To book, ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address, the type of property and what’s prompted the survey. We will confirm the price and agree a day with you.
Will you climb onto the roof?
Only where it is safe to do so. We inspect from ground level, from windows and vantage points, from the loft and from the roof itself where safe. On Premium, a drone is used where it applies.
Can you survey in bad weather?
It can, depending on the survey. Drones can’t fly safely in high wind or heavy rain, and thermal imaging works best after a sunny day, with a dry roof and little wind. If the conditions are not right, we will talk to you about another date.
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
We survey roofs for landlords and agents as well as homeowners. The report gives you a dated record of the roof, with photographs.
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed in advance. Surveys run on weekdays and at weekends, which can make access easier.